Internships

Employers agree that the strongest candidates have both solid academic preparation and practical, on-the-job experience gleaned from internships.
US Capitol building

Explore Internship Opportunities in Political Science

Political Science students have many paths for securing internships and receiving academic credit. Whether you arrange your own placement or participate in an organized program, you'll gain valuable professional skills, expand your network, and explore potential career paths.

Any Semester

Students can earn academic credit while interning part-time or full-time during the fall, spring, or summer semester.

Any Location

Students majoring or minoring in Political Science have gained valuable experience interning in settings across the country. Many of these students have received Job-Ready Awards that provided funding for living expenses.

No Course Prerequisites

You need only be a Political Science student in good standing.

Washington, D.C. Internships

US Capitol Building

Boilers Go To D.C. Summer Scholars

Earn academic credit for your internship in government, non-profit, or private sector.
Logo for DC Fellowship

Political Science D.C. Fellowship Support

Provides students with a stipend for living expenses and housing through the Boilers Go to D.C. Summer Scholars Internship Program.
Students in Washington DC

C-SPAN Washington D.C. Internship

Yang Yaoyu C-SPAN Intern Scholarship awards one student from Purdue University a grant of $4,000, to intern at C-SPAN for the summer.
Matt's guide to internships

Matt's Compendium of Internships

Helps students find internships in Washington D.C. and other internship opportunities & resources.
Indiana State House

Indiana State Legislative Spring Internship Program

Each spring semester, the Indiana General Assembly awards 50–60 internships. These internships are competitively awarded and distributed among colleges and universities throughout Indiana. Generally, about 12 Purdue students are selected.

To be eligible, you must be at least a junior and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Approval for legislative internship credit is contingent upon the student securing a position in the Indiana General Assembly’s Intern Program, which is run by the party caucuses in the House and Senate.

 

Purdue student interns explore career paths, network with professionals, apply classroom learning, expand their skills, and gain coveted real-life work experience. Follow the steps below to earn academic credit during your internship.

Ensure you are eligible and ask about available opportunities. Be sure you understand how internship credit will count toward your degree requirements.

Your advisors can help you navigate courses, study abroad and internship opportunities, as well as upcoming events.

Make an Appointment with Your Advisor

CLA Career Services

CLA Career Services helps students build confidence, develop a professional toolkit, and shape a career path that excites them.

Purdue Center for Career Opportunities

The Center for Career Opportunities informs and empowers students through transformative career services, including career coaching, embracing differences, and connecting students with professional opportunities in Indiana, across the United States, and around the world.

CLA Job-Ready Initiative

Students whose internships are unpaid or low-paid can apply for financial support to help cover basic costs associated with their internship experience.

Identify Potential Internship Providers

Identify potential internship providers and learn about them to develop ideas for your internship. Your work may focus on a particular project, or you may complete a variety of tasks. The only absolute requirement is that your internship must contain an academic component.

You will arrange your exact duties with your internship provider. Keep in mind that you are there to gain education through your field experience; you are not free labor for the organization.

Although the exact number of hours and schedule will be arranged between you and your internship provider, you should expect to work 4–8 hours per week.

Indiana Legislative Internship Opportunities

Consult the party websites for additional information, application deadlines, and instructions on how to apply.

Additional opportunities: Internships may also be available with current members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

Registering for Internship Credit

Approval is required before your internship begins. To register for internship credit, students must receive approval from the Department in advance.

Step 1: Complete the Internship Application

Complete the Political Science Department's Internship Application:

Internship Application

Step 2: Have Your Internship Provider Complete the Contract

Your internship provider must complete an Internship Contract outlining your duties and responsibilities. It is your responsibility to share the contract link with your internship provider and ensure that they complete the form.

Internship Contract

No course credit will be awarded for internships without prior approval of the employer contract.

Registering for Degree Credit: Indiana State Legislature Internship

All Indiana State Legislature interns are expected to register for the following courses:

  • POL 40302ISL — 3 credits
    Regular grade
  • POL 59000ISL — 3 credits
    Sub-National Government course taught on-site in Indianapolis by a rotating group of universities; regular grade

Students who would like to earn Capstone credit should also enroll in:

  • POL 49500ISL — 3 credits
    Regular grade

Students who need additional credits to maintain full-time enrollment may also add:

  • POL 40300ISL — up to 6 credits
    Pass/no pass

Registering for Degree Credit: All Other Internships

Students have several options to suit their internship and academic needs:

  • POL 40302 — 3 credits
    Self-Initiated Internship; regular grade. Students submit regular journal entries and a 1,500–2,000-word statement at the end of their internship describing what they learned.
  • POL 40302CA — 3 credits
    Self-Initiated Internship Capstone; regular grade. Students complete a Capstone project at the end of their internship.

Students with a full-time internship who need additional credits to maintain full-time enrollment may also add:

  • POL 40300 — up to 9 credits
    Field Experiences in Political Science; pass/no pass. Can be taken concurrently with POL 40302 or POL 40302CA to allow students to earn additional credit.
Photo of a group of Pi Sigma Alpha students

Purdue Political Science Students Have Interned at Locations Around the Country 

 
Campaign for Hoosier Families, Lafayette, IN
Church World Service’s Advocacy and Policy Group, Washington, D.C.
Cook County State’s Attorney, Chicago, IL
C-SPAN, Washington, D.C.
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Guggenheim Museum, New York City
Indianapolis Children’s Museum
Indiana General Assembly
Indiana State Department of Health
Indianapolis Office of the Mayor
Illinois State Board of Education
Kheprw Institute, Indianapolis, IN
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
National Public Radio, Washington, D.C.
Parkview Health Systems, Fort Wayne, IN
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Washington, D.C.
Republic of the Marshall Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York City
U.S. Congressman Susan Brooks of Indiana
U.S. Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona
U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski of Indiana
U.S. Congressman Peter Visclosky of Indiana
U.S. Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D.C.
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, D.C.
USS Monitor Center at the Mariners’ Museum and Park, Virginia
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois
U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN